| Author | |
CrunchyMom
Forum Moderator
Joined: Sept 03 2007
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 6385
|
| Posted: Sept 02 2010 at 8:39am | IP Logged
|
 |
|
Just curious. I'm at the "I'm starting to look pudgy but not really pregnant" stage, and I'm tempted to pull out some maternity things for vanity's sake.
I have managed in the past to stay in regular clothes for quite some time using belly bands to hide unbuttoned waist bands as well as make up for a bit of length that sometimes all that is lacking in non-maternity tops.
However, even though I can still button my non maternity things, I'm really starting to feel fat because everything is hanging from my expanding waist (which is resembling a waist less and less every day) in a most frumpy way.
Also, my favoritest khaki skirt in the world [which I wear all the time and has taken me in and out of my last two pregnancies--its just cut so perfectly for fitting under a belly during pregnancy but still not too low outside during all my ranges of weight fluctuations] is suddenly starting to fray such that I don't anticipate even being able to wear it at home for much longer 
Why does something that should be so trivial have the ability to affect one so? Why should finding a reliable piece of standard clothing be so very difficult?
__________________
Lindsay
Five Boys(6/04) (6/06) (9/08)(3/11),(7/13), and 1 girl (5/16)
My Symphony
[URL=http://mysymphonygarden.blogspot.com/]Lost in the Cosmos[/UR
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
Mackfam
Board Moderator
Non Nobis
Joined: April 24 2006
Location: Alabama
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 14656
|
| Posted: Sept 02 2010 at 8:55am | IP Logged
|
|
|
I picked other, but if I could vote twice I'd also choose the "as soon as possible" option.
As soon as I climb out of the green funk hole, my waist is exactly as you describe yours - non-existent. I also have an EXTREMELY HIGH SENSITIVITY to anything touching my waist/tummy during early pregnancy (probably because of my hyper-ickiness). So, I go for maternity clothes for a couple of reasons:
** I need something fresh that helps me feel better about myself visually.
** I'm looking for something that doesn't sit anywhere NEAR MY NATURAL WAIST
If my old maternity clothes are really old (and they were with my last pregnancy), I purchase a couple of staple pieces with tummy panels because they're comfortable for me and can be worn regularly. I was able to find a couple of maternity skirts with panels that were very fashionable and modest with my last pregnancy. They made a huge difference! Then, I look for shirts that aren't tents, but aren't SUPER clingy either to wear with the skirts. Longer shirts in larger sizes work well for me. Since maternity shirts are made very clingy now, I enjoy layering with the top layer being several sizes larger than I would normally buy. Also, some of the tops in the ladies sections now are made in a way that makes them very cute layered over a maternity tee.
It's a huge emotional boost for me to not look like death so this might not be as important for other folks as it is for me.
Could you take your favorite khaki skirt apart and duplicate it with the sewing machine? It sounds like it is really a great piece in your wardrobe! Another option is to look on the tag and get the name brand and then search for its twin sister on ebay! I've done that a couple of times with great success. If you have the name brand on the tag, and an idea of the style - tulip skirt, full skirt, elastic waistband - you can enter those search terms and generally find something!
Good luck, Lindsay! I do feel your pain!
__________________
Jen Mackintosh
Wife to Rob, mom to dd 19 , ds 16, ds 11, dd 8, and dd 3
Wildflowers and Marbles
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
hylabrook1
Forum Moderator
Joined: July 09 2006
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 5980
|
| Posted: Sept 02 2010 at 9:19am | IP Logged
|
|
|
What Jen said. I do, however, prefer jumpers to skirts - they hang from the shoulders, completely avoiding the tummy, so I don't have even minor pressure on my tummy, which would  . Also, with a jumper you can pretty much continue to wear your non-maternity tops, leaving most of the buttons undone or pushing a knit top sort of up and off the belly.
Peace,
Nancy
ETA: For me, it's not just the belly itself. My pelvis starts to get wider pretty much right away, so my regular clothes just don't make it.
Also, another advantage of the jumper is that it continues to fit even toward *the end*, the gathers or pleats are just more pushed out.
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
CrunchyMom
Forum Moderator
Joined: Sept 03 2007
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 6385
|
| Posted: Sept 02 2010 at 9:25am | IP Logged
|
|
|
Mackfam wrote:
| I picked other, but if I could vote twice I'd also choose the "as soon as possible" option. |
|
|
I think you can vote twice 
Thanks, Jenn! I've been browsing maternity clothes, and the options are sort of depressing. Those are good options to consider, especially since layering will be a bit easier since this will be my first non-summer baby.
__________________
Lindsay
Five Boys(6/04) (6/06) (9/08)(3/11),(7/13), and 1 girl (5/16)
My Symphony
[URL=http://mysymphonygarden.blogspot.com/]Lost in the Cosmos[/UR
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
Mackfam
Board Moderator
Non Nobis
Joined: April 24 2006
Location: Alabama
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 14656
|
| Posted: Sept 02 2010 at 9:42am | IP Logged
|
|
|
I can't vote twice in this poll.  I tried.
I came back to mention that empire waist dresses are very flattering in early pregnancy. And I've seen some shirts cut with an empire waist. You can find these in non-maternity sections. So, if you can find a few good layering tees in maternity, and some attractive non-maternity shirts with a good cut, or a jumper like Nancy suggested, you're set!
I know what you mean about the selections being DEPRESSING! Suzanne introduced me to shopping on ebay for skirts, etc., about a year or so ago, and I've been hooked because I've had such AMAZING luck! Here are all the maternity skirts available. This was my favorite all-purpose skirt with my last pregnancy. I had this khaki cord skirt as well and I just loved it. So versatile! And...look at these cute empire waist maternity dresses!!! Pair a sleeveless dress with a cute cardigan or shrug - ADORABLE!
Clearly, I need to re-focus on my laundry this morning! I'm maternity shopping for you, Lindsay!!! 
__________________
Jen Mackintosh
Wife to Rob, mom to dd 19, ds 16, ds 11, dd 8, and dd 3
Wildflowers and Marbles
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
Chris V
Forum All-Star
Joined: Dec 03 2009
Location: Washington
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 1598
|
| Posted: Sept 02 2010 at 10:20am | IP Logged
|
|
|
I voted for as soon as possible (yes, vanity. yes, my self-esteem get the better of me with each pregnancy, and yes, I feel the need to shout from the Heavens that I am expecting, and not just getting fatter by the hour).
As with all the women in my family, I tend to show very, very soon and get comments ALL. THE. TIME about my pregnant belly. A typical trip to the grocery store goes something like this:
Oh, wow! Congratulations! When are you due? (me, usually 8 weeks along): "Oh goodness, not until May of next year, I've got a ways to go (insert fake laugh)". The other person Oh my! You're huge!. Me, though feeling bruised and even fatter: "Well, yes, I do tend to show early." (insert fake giggling so as not to make the other person feel bad for making such an asinine comment to a vulnerable mother).
Lindsay, I break out the maternity clothes as soon as there's a positive-blue line on the stick
__________________
Chris
Happy Wife with my Happy Life
Mama to My Five Girls ('04~'07~'09~'11~'11)
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
Lisbet
Forum All-Star
Joined: Feb 07 2006
Location: Michigan
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 2706
|
| Posted: Sept 02 2010 at 10:29am | IP Logged
|
|
|
I start early also - a combination of vanity and necessity I suppose. I show early - though it is usually bloat, and my backside begins to spread right away. 
I discovered The Modest Mom and New Creation and have been very happy with both.
__________________
Lisa, wife to Tony,
Mama to:
Nick, 17
Abby, 15
Gabe, 13
Isaac, 11
Mary, 10
Sam, 9
Henry, 7
Molly, 6
Mark, 5
Greta, 3
Cecilia born 10.29.10
Josephine born 6.11.12
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
JodieLyn
Forum Moderator
Joined: Sept 06 2006
Location: Oregon
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 12234
|
| Posted: Sept 02 2010 at 10:31am | IP Logged
|
|
|
Yep generally as soon as needed (I said as soon as things get tight.. but that's relative.. anything is too tight in pregnancy )
But same as others.. my tummy gets sensitive.. I also look for babydoll style and trapeze style tops along with the empire style.. to get that higher waist and looser bodied tops and dresses.
And you never know where you might find something. I got a great summer dress in walmart of all places.. just their regular plus sized clothes.. but it's wonderful... drapey and stretchy and it looks great as a summer dress (I have a sheer top I can wear as a jacket over it) but I also wore it the first time with a tutleneck and leggings as a jumper.
__________________
Jodie, wife to Dave
G-18, B-17, G-15, G-14, B-13, B-11, G-9, B-7, B-5, B-4
All men who have turned out worth anything have had the chief hand in their own education.
-Sir Walter Scott
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
DominaCaeli
Forum All-Star
Joined: April 24 2007
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 3711
|
| Posted: Sept 02 2010 at 12:55pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
I'm really picky about fit of clothing, and I am kind of back and forth on this. On the one hand, I have a very small maternity wardrobe of pieces I really like (I'm sure you all know how hard it is to find maternity skirts you love!), so I want to extend their life by wearing them for as little time as possible. So I do wear my regular skirts as long as I can, even moving into my postpartum skirts for a little while as my waistline expands. At a certain point, though, I'm longing for something stretchy around my middle even if the regular bottoms do "fit," so that's when I'll get my maternity skirts out.
I do, however, bring the maternity tops out earlier on--I have found that a fitted maternity top paired with even regular skirts (when worn a little low) makes me look a little more pregnant than chubby.
__________________
Blessings,
Celeste
Joyous Lessons
Mommy to six: three boys (8, 4, newborn) and four girls (7, 5, 2, and 1)
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
Angie Mc
Board Moderator
Joined: Jan 31 2005
Location: Arizona
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 11400
|
| Posted: Sept 02 2010 at 1:00pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
At the last possible minute! I'm dating myself but...my materinity clothes were soooooooooooooo ugly!!! Ugh, I'll stop there. I just couldn't afford pretty maternity clothes, didn't have access to nice second hand clothes for most of my pregnancies, and...well...I'm not a fashion girl anyway so I just tried to deny the whole maternity clothes things as much as possible.
Thanks for letting me get that off of my chest. I'm better now .
Love,
__________________
Angie Mc
Maimeo to Henry! Dave's wife, mom to Mrs. Devin+Michael Pope, Aiden 20,Ian 17,John Paul 11,Catherine (heaven 6/07)
About Me
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
SuzanneG
Forum Moderator
Joined: June 17 2006
Location: Idaho
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 5465
|
| Posted: Sept 02 2010 at 5:50pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
I put "As soon as my regular clothes get too tight"...which is about 2 weeks after I find out I'm pregnant. 
LOVE LOVE Empire Waist Dresses! I'm wearing one now...that is meant to be worn as a non-maternity dress OR as a skirt...with that big band around it for either the bust area OR the waistband. I wear a Cardigan over it....so cute! I find these at TJ Maxx or Marshalls all the time for pretty cheap.
Lindsay...there is a denim skirt at Motherhood that is really nice...it's similar to the one I got a couple years ago, but it ran small, so I'm contemplating getting an XL to get me all the way through to the end. It's a similar cut to the skirt that Jen linked to above in KHAKI corduroy. LOVE LOVE these skirts! I've seen the Khaki corduroy ones on ebay too.
Also, I made a couple of these skirts for summer (Thanks Lisbet from another thread!) and am thinking about making a black corduroy one for winter.
I did go for the fitted maternity t-shirts with a maternity skirt or capris this summer.....first time with the "fitted concept" for me. That's kind of all that's out there now, unless you want to pay a fortune for a stupid shirt!
I guess it looked cute....according to other people who are brutally-honest-fashion-wise with me. But, I still felt a bit like I was sporting blubber instead of a baby.....with a sixth pregnancy, things are just a bit less "hearty" and "strong" in the midriff area.....there was a bit too much jiggling going on that didn't quite feel right. But, at least I was fashionable.
__________________
Suzanne in ID
Wife to Pete
Mom of 7 (Girls - 14, 12, 11, 9, 7 and Boys - 4, 1)
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
SuzanneG
Forum Moderator
Joined: June 17 2006
Location: Idaho
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 5465
|
| Posted: Sept 02 2010 at 5:53pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
Great Balls of Fire!!!!!! Jen, did you see that skirt went for $36.00 ???? It was only about $25.00 full price at the store!!!!! And, it is NOT SEXY! Why on earth would they say that?
__________________
Suzanne in ID
Wife to Pete
Mom of 7 (Girls - 14, 12, 11, 9, 7 and Boys - 4, 1)
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
Mackfam
Board Moderator
Non Nobis
Joined: April 24 2006
Location: Alabama
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 14656
|
| Posted: Sept 02 2010 at 5:58pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
SuzanneG wrote:
Great Balls of Fire!!!!!! Jen, did you see that skirt went for $36.00 ???? It was only about $25.00 full price at the store!!!!! And, it is NOT SEXY! Why on earth would they say that? |
|
|
I did see that and thought it was absolutely CRAZY!!! I almost said something about that ridiculous price, too! And of course, I fought the compulsion to hunt it down for a better price! It's a good thing I didn't know Lindsay's size...or I WOULD HAVE DONE IT!!!
I have no clue why they're asking that much - it isn't anything to write home about, but it is a VERY VERSATILE skirt!!! And, I found the cord skirt WAY more comfortable and a better overall drape than the denim one in a similar cut once I got further into the pregnancy. SO....if you can find it in your size for a good price...GRAB IT!!!! 
__________________
Jen Mackintosh
Wife to Rob, mom to dd 19, ds 16, ds 11, dd 8, and dd 3
Wildflowers and Marbles
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
Lisbet
Forum All-Star
Joined: Feb 07 2006
Location: Michigan
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 2706
|
| Posted: Sept 02 2010 at 6:28pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
I'm almost embarrassed to admit, but I have that skirt in denim, in both small for earlier pregnancy and large for, like now. (29 weeks) I also have it in medium in both khaki and cord. The cord has the best over fit and drape, but I've not been able to wear it yet this pregnancy b/c it's summer.
Suzanne, I know what you mean about the 'jiggly' stuff. I have a few snugger T-shirts. Everything wiggles when I walk...
__________________
Lisa, wife to Tony,
Mama to:
Nick, 17
Abby, 15
Gabe, 13
Isaac, 11
Mary, 10
Sam, 9
Henry, 7
Molly, 6
Mark, 5
Greta, 3
Cecilia born 10.29.10
Josephine born 6.11.12
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
CrunchyMom
Forum Moderator
Joined: Sept 03 2007
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 6385
|
| Posted: Sept 02 2010 at 9:17pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
Mackfam wrote:
SuzanneG wrote:
Great Balls of Fire!!!!!! Jen, did you see that skirt went for $36.00 ???? It was only about $25.00 full price at the store!!!!! And, it is NOT SEXY! Why on earth would they say that? |
|
|
I did see that and thought it was absolutely CRAZY!!! I almost said something about that ridiculous price, too! And of course, I fought the compulsion to hunt it down for a better price! It's a good thing I didn't know Lindsay's size...or I WOULD HAVE DONE IT!!!
I have no clue why they're asking that much - it isn't anything to write home about, but it is a VERY VERSATILE skirt!!! And, I found the cord skirt WAY more comfortable and a better overall drape than the denim one in a similar cut once I got further into the pregnancy. SO....if you can find it in your size for a good price...GRAB IT!!!! |
|
|
I actually browsed house dresses today thinking there might be cute ones for around the house There were a couple, but they were pricey and warm weather.
__________________
Lindsay
Five Boys(6/04) (6/06) (9/08)(3/11),(7/13), and 1 girl (5/16)
My Symphony
[URL=http://mysymphonygarden.blogspot.com/]Lost in the Cosmos[/UR
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
CrunchyMom
Forum Moderator
Joined: Sept 03 2007
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 6385
|
| Posted: Sept 03 2010 at 7:55am | IP Logged
|
|
|
I came across this idea/tutorial for adding a panel to a thrift store skirt.
I think I also have some fabric that I could use to make some skirts like Suzanne linked to, I just have to get motivated!
__________________
Lindsay
Five Boys(6/04) (6/06) (9/08)(3/11),(7/13), and 1 girl (5/16)
My Symphony
[URL=http://mysymphonygarden.blogspot.com/]Lost in the Cosmos[/UR
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
SuzanneG
Forum Moderator
Joined: June 17 2006
Location: Idaho
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 5465
|
| Posted: Sept 03 2010 at 8:28am | IP Logged
|
|
|
I do a lot of altering thrift store skirts like this too. Old camisoles and stained stretchy t-shirts get put to great use!
And, because I can NEVER pass up a good compilation: 
Maternity Sewing Tutorial Roundup
__________________
Suzanne in ID
Wife to Pete
Mom of 7 (Girls - 14, 12, 11, 9, 7 and Boys - 4, 1)
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
Pilgrim
Forum All-Star
Joined: Feb 28 2007
Location: Wisconsin
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 1286
|
| Posted: Sept 06 2010 at 2:28pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
I like that denim skirt Jen linked to as well, I bought 2 last pregnancy, so I'd actually have some amternity skirts that l;ooked kinda flattering and not like a garbage bag.
I have found some maternity skirts at thrift stores this time around with too long slits, which is easily remedied.
My problem is the one has some of that hideous fading down the thighs which I didn't notice before purchase. I think I'll start a new post to ask if anyone knows how to fix that. 
__________________
Wife 2 my bf, g14,b8,g&b6,g4,g3,g1 1/2,4 ^i^
St. Clare Heirloom Seeds coupon 4Real 20% off
St. Clare Audio
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
Lisbet
Forum All-Star
Joined: Feb 07 2006
Location: Michigan
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 2706
|
| Posted: Sept 07 2010 at 4:19am | IP Logged
|
|
|
Lindsay, I made one of those last week and I LOVE it!! It fits just right and it is very comfortable!
__________________
Lisa, wife to Tony,
Mama to:
Nick, 17
Abby, 15
Gabe, 13
Isaac, 11
Mary, 10
Sam, 9
Henry, 7
Molly, 6
Mark, 5
Greta, 3
Cecilia born 10.29.10
Josephine born 6.11.12
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
|
|
4Real Forums : Tea and Conversation
Topic: Quick Informal Poll: Maternity Clothes
